Convert Xvid file to VCD but keep it on 1 CD?

[digital_frog]

Was wondering if someone can help with this. I have an Xvid encoded movie that I'm trying to convert to VCD. The source file is 816 kb/s with a filesize of approx 700MB, but when i convert with DVD2SVCD and CCE the forced 1150 bitrate for VCD creates a 900 MB file which i can't fit on one CD. Any ideas on how to get around this?

One more question: The source file is 576x320 NTSC. Am I wrong or is this widescreen? Bc I originally tried to create a SVCD (without borders) and it turned out distorted when encoded at 4:3. Should I try encoding it as 16:9? Maybe this way i won't need to encode as VCD?

Thanks in advance for any replies.

DF

[gll99]

You could try these templates:

https://www.videohelp.com/tools?section=26#26

Some people like the results and others not.

[digital_frog]

Thanks for the reply. The problem is that I use CCE. From what I can see all the templates are Tmpgenc.

DF

[gll99]

That's true but looking at the templates might give you some idea as to what adjustments to make. You could also give tmpgenc a try (it's free for mpeg1) and see how it looks.

Doing this on your own is more a matter of reducing video to less than 1150 and audio bitrate to 128 or less. Remember that's it's still within standards to reduce the bitrates. I don't know if CCE is locked in or if you can create a mpeg1 with some adjustments. Some people achieve reduction by cutting credits from video's while others smooth the video to reduce changes and increase encoder efficiency. I don't say that's good only that it's done. It's been a while for me but I know the templates play with the gop structure. if CCE allows this you could try to adjust them manually similar to what is done in the templates. The results will produce a non standard (s)vcd which may or may not play in your standalone.

[bugster]

The size of an mpeg file is determined by Playing time and bitrate only. Nothing else matters. So to fit your movie on one CD you have to adjust the bitrate and produce an XVCD (non-standard). Use a bitrate calculator to determine what bitrate you need look here .

VCD only supports a DAR of 4:3. If you want to encode it to 16:9 either use a DAR of 4:3 and letterbox it or use a DAR of 16:9 and see what your DVD player does when it sees it.

[akbor75]

it's not true that "the size of an mpeg file is determined by Playing time and bitrate only". it also depends of how different each frame is. cos each frame just the difference from the reference frame (i-frame). so if there's less difference, the file gets smaller.
it's however true that the Playing time (in fact time and framerate) and bitrate have the most impact on the filesize.
what also counts is the use of variable bitrate or constant bitrate.

[bugster]

it's not true that "the size of an mpeg file is determined by Playing time and bitrate only".

Ok, I will be fair. If it is Variable Bitrate used, it is the Average bitrate. If it is constant bitrate used, then it is this value that matters, but it is still the bitrate.

it also depends of how different each frame is. cos each frame just the difference from the reference frame (i-frame). so if there's less difference, the file gets smaller.

Is a load of rubbish.


If you want to get technical. even Constant bitrate isn't truly constant. But it is the numbers you plug into your encoder that matter, be it VBR or CBR.

If I am wrong, why does every bitrate calculator for mpeg you will ever see only want the playing time and media size to give you the required bitrate to fit on your desired media?

[akbor75]

i know the importance of the bitrate according to the filesize.

what i want to say is, you can set the bitrate e.g. to 6k, but if it's variable (e.g. 4k to 10k) the actually used bitrate for a scene depends on the content: fast scenes require more bits to preserve quality, also do more colors and more noise.
i thought it worked this way.
if i'm wrong that's cool, it's always good to learn new stuff.

i think my problem is i'm used to think the other way: i try what bitrate gives me good quality and i use that bitrate for everything i encode. i don't let the medium i'm using change that.
but that's a little off topic...

[bugster]

@akbor75.

The size of an mpeg file is determined by the bitrate and the playing time. Nothing else.

If you use VBR, it is the average bitrate that is important in this respect.
If you use CQ mode, you are allowing the encoder to determine what bitrate is required (within certain constraints) and so it is very difficult if not impossible to accuratley predict filesize.

You are quite right when you say

the actually used bitrate for a scene depends on the content: fast scenes require more bits to preserve quality, also do more colors and more noise.

but perhaps it would be more accurate to say "the actual required bitrate" for a scene.

If you encode using CBR, the bitrate allocated to all scenes is the same. Therefore you could en up wasting bitrate on low-motion scenes and not having enough bitrate for high motion scenes. Thats why we use VBR. With VBR the encoder can allocate the bitrate where it is most needed.

However, a movie encoded with CBR 4000 and VBR Average 4000 will be exactly the same size in both cases (well, within the encoders ability to maintain the required bitrates).

Does this help.

[ronnylov]

You can fit 900 MB VCD video on one 90 minutes CD-R if you enable overburning and your burner is capable of burning 90 minutes CD-R discs. There's also 99 min CD-R discs which can hold up to 982.4 MB of VCD video.

Check this thread out:
https://www.videohelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=420097#420097

[Gazorgan]

VCD is 80 minutes. Deal with it.

90/99 minute CDR's may or may not burn on your computer. 90/99 minute CDR's may or may not play on your settop player. 90/99 minute CDR's may or may not be available in your area.

Search KVCD if your bound and determined to fit 1 crappy MPEG4 (700 MB AVI by definition) onto 1 CDR for a settop player.

[akbor75]

bugster,

thx for the bitrate info.
i myself don't use vbr cos it should be used as 2pass (i read that somewhere), which takes a lot of time... so i use cbr (2.5k with svcd and 8k with dvd). that might be overkill, but i never run out of cd space cos i have a dvd writer for a few months now.

anyway, i think i'm going to look for some books about video encoding stuff, cos, though i don't really need it, it interests me.